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Accredited Community College Degrees With High Salaries

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They say that a college degree will give you a better future. But can it really? A four-year degree has become so expensive that the average student loan has increased by 108% since 2007. This is a depressing growth rate, especially for recent college graduates facing tough job markets.

But wait, before you lose all hope, know there’s still a chance to have a stable career without getting buried in debt. Enter community colleges.

While a bachelor’s degree is known to have a higher bearing, it doesn’t mean that it’s always a better choice. A community college costs an average of $12,917 per year, while a bachelor’s degree costs $38,270 per year on average. You just need to know where and what to look for in a community college to reach your financial goals.

In this post, we will explore high-paying community college degrees in legal, IT, healthcare, and more. We will also give you a quick and thorough guide on how to choose the right degree and community college for your needs.

Related:

The Value of an Accredited Community College Degree

A community college degree can indeed be very valuable—if it’s from an accredited institution. An unaccredited credential, whether an associate, bachelor, certificate, or master’s degree, will leave you with wasted resources. So, before enrolling in a community college, ensure it is properly accredited.

There are two types of accreditation: national and regional. However, if you plan to transfer to a four-year degree, consider regionally accredited community colleges.

There are six types of regional accreditation:

  1. Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  2. New England Commission of Higher Education
  3. Higher Learning Commission
  4. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
  5. Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges
  6. Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Most community colleges are granted national accreditation. Credits you earn from these schools can be transferred but are restricted to nationally accredited four-year colleges only.

On top of institutional accreditation, there’s also programmatic accreditation or specialized accreditation. There are approximately 70 programmatic accreditors that offer specialized accreditation.

While not all high-paying community college degrees are required to have specialized accreditation, certain professional fields require you to graduate from an accredited program, including:

  • Business
  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Law
  • Nursing
  • Psychology

So, how do you make sure that the program is accredited? It’s actually very easy and can be done in three easy steps — all from your smartphone or computer.

  1. Look at the program’s website. Begin by checking the official webpage of the program for information regarding its programmatic and institutional accreditations.
  2. Check the member list of the accreditation agency. Any school can say they are accredited, but some may be using out-of-date data. To find out if the program is actively accredited, go to the website of the accrediting agency and search its member list or directory.
  3. Look up the agency on CHEA and/or ED. Last of all, verify that the accrediting agency is recognized by looking up its name in the CHEA database and/or the ED directory.

It is a process you need to do to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth. According to the Education Pays by BLS, associate’s degree holders, on average, earn $170 more a week than those with only high school diplomas.

Top High-Paying Accredited Community College Degrees

Let’s start exploring the best associate degrees for high salaries in 2025:

1. Nursing (Associate Degree in Nursing – ADN)

Among the best high-paying community college degrees is ADN, which helps you make around $86,070 a year. The job growth is steady, at about 6% from 2023 to 2033. You’ll need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become a Registered Nurse (RN), and you can work in hospitals or outpatient care centers helping patients.

2. Computer Science & Information Technology (Associate in Computer Science or IT)

If you want to be in the most competitive fields, we suggest pursuing accredited community college programs in computer science and IT. Graduates are known for earning six digits early in their careers with certifications. The field is growing quickly, with job growth at 18%, especially in IT support and cybersecurity roles. Getting certifications like CompTIA, Cisco, or AWS can help boost your earnings even more.

3. Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapists earn an average of $98,300 a year, and job growth in this field is at 3%. To get started, you’ll need certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). You can work in hospitals or cancer treatment centers, helping patients with radiation therapy.

4. Dental Hygiene (Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene)

Dental hygienists make around $87,530 a year, with job growth of about 9%. To become a dental hygienist, you’ll need to pass a state board exam. The majority of dental hygienists find employment in private dental offices. Others work in public health clinics.

5. Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Associate in Sonography or Ultrasound Technology)

As a diagnostic medical sonographer, you can make about $78K a year with a growth rate of 11%. You’ll need to get certified by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS). You’ll likely work in hospitals, imaging centers, or even private practices doing ultrasounds.

6. Air Traffic Control (Associate in Air Traffic Management)

As one of the top-earning two-year degrees, going into air traffic control allows you to earn $137,38 a year after you’ve got some experience. The job requires training through FAA programs, and while it can be stressful, it’s a high-paying government job.

7. Engineering Technology (Associate in Electrical/Mechanical/Civil Engineering Technology)

With an Associate in Engineering Technology (like Electrical, Mechanical, or Civil), you can make anywhere from $60K to $75K a year. Job growth in this field is 3%, so it’s a bit slower compared to some others. You might end up as a field technician, engineering assistant, or quality control specialist.

8. Paralegal Studies (Associate in Paralegal Studies)

Associate in paralegal studies is one of the best community college degrees for jobs in the legal industry. Paralegals earn about $60K a year. However, job growth is a bit slower at only 1%. You’ll need certification from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). Paralegals often work in law firms or corporate legal departments, assisting lawyers with research, drafting documents, and managing cases.

9. Respiratory Therapy (Associate in Respiratory Therapy)

With a 13% job growth, this is one of the top-rated high-demand associate degree careers. Respiratory therapists make $77,960 a year. To get started, you’ll need to get certified by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). You’ll work in hospitals, critical care units, or sleep labs, helping people with breathing issues.

10. Web Development & Digital Design (Associate in Web Development/Digital Media)

Associate in web development/digital media is one of the most sought-after associate degrees with the highest salaries. Graduates are known to become very high-earning professionals, with average annual salaries of $92,750 and an 8% job growth rate. You’ll need HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and UI/UX design skills. You can work as a freelancer or designing websites and apps for companies.

Factors That Impact Salary Potential

  • Geographic Location: Salaries can vary depending on where you live. For example, tech jobs in Silicon Valley may pay more than those in rural areas.
  • Industry Demand: Fields with high demand (like healthcare and tech) tend to have higher salaries.
  • Work Experience and Certifications: The more extensive experience you acquire and the more certifications you earn, the higher your earning potential.
  • Specializations: If you focus on in-demand skills, such as cybersecurity within IT, you can earn more.

So, when you ask about the best-paying jobs with a two-year degree, it really depends on these factors!

How to Choose the Right Community College Program

The key to landing the fastest-growing careers with associate degrees starts with choosing the right place to study.

When you’re searching for a college, always make sure that it has a stamp of approval (accreditation). Doing so will give you a more secure future as you will be confident that employers will hire you. If you’re planning to continue to a four-year degree, put into priority regionally accredited colleges.

Other factors you need to consider are:

  • High job placement rates
  • Networking opportunities
  • Support services

If you’re working or have a family to take care of, online learning might be a good fit. But if you want a structured environment with face-to-face interactions, choose in-person programs.

Conclusion

To conclude, the best community college degrees with strong ROI are:

  1. Nursing (ADN)
  2. Computer Science & IT
  3. Radiation Therapy
  4. Dental Hygiene
  5. Diagnostic Medical Sonography
  6. Air Traffic Control
  7. Engineering Technology
  8. Paralegal Studies
  9. Respiratory Therapy
  10. Web Development & Digital Design

Whichever field you choose to pursue, just make sure that the college you’ll send your application to is properly accredited.